Hexham, where has all the freight gone?

[stuartmoss]

Had a couple of hours on Hexham station this aft, saw the usual spam cans, including a scot rail, and was delighted to see the network rail yellow inter city 125, but in the whole 2 hours I didn't see any freight. Last year there was at least 1 in each direction per hour. Has it died a death or is Monday a bad day?and if so, does anyone know why?

I took some nice video footage which I will upload next week when I get home.

Stu.

 

[Tugzrule]

Today was quite a bad day for freight (I was at Carlisle). There was very few coal all day but a few Network Rail trains. Surprised you did not see the 37's on the flasks from Seaton-Sellafield

 

[truckman060473]

same story with freight at Patchway today 14.39 to 15.35. nothing. there was a network rail auto balaster around East Usk yard with top and tail 66. one or two steel workings thru Newport 4pm to 5.30pm but nothing else. slow all round today. saw more locomotives on the Cardiff loco hauled passenger services than freight locos which is quite a statement!

 

[142094]

but in the whole 2 hours I didn't see any freight. Last year there was at least 1 in each direction per hour. Has it died a death or is Monday a bad day?and if so, does anyone know why?

Hit and miss I'm afraid, probably would have been better trying Newcastle or Middlesbrough. There is a Yahoo gen group for the NE area that usually has some good info on.

 

[33056]

I realise that the current climate does not help, but I do think that Mondays always have tended to be quieter for freight in most areas.

 

[transportphoto]

Could the Network Rail Workings be replacing some of the Freight for today so they could do the Track Testing etc...???

 

[stuartmoss]

Went back today for 90 mins, just saw one Freightliner 66599 coal train heading towards Carlisle, this was at 13:40 which was the same time that the 125 went through yesterday, so that must be a freight pathway between the passenger services. Nothing going towards Newcastle though.

 

[142094]

Could the Network Rail Workings be replacing some of the Freight for today so they could do the Track Testing etc...???

Doesn't usually replace a freight working, just uses a free path.